Leryn Franco

I’ve noticed over the years that when I start a new web design project I’ve developed my own process. I imagine that most designers will say the same thing. Sure we might all follow certain principals, but I’ve discovered that I usually think about three things:

1. The initial concept/creative idea

2. Usability

3. Secondary design such as colors, images, etc.

I’ll open up a new Photoshop document (usually at 1024 px size or greater since the majority of internet surfers are at that resolution or higher) and basically just start placing elements on the page (logos, images, menu items, etc.). This is what I like to call the “collage” phase. Often times I revert to this if that initial concept hasn’t come to me yet, but even if I have a concept in mind, I like to try different placement of elements to see what works best. I often compare it to interior design of a room - you move the furniture around to see what the best placement and “flow” is.

As I’m creating and moving elements around the page, I’m thinking about two other things: how will this translate to an actual webpage (for example, can I make it 100% css, how will I “cut up” the page, etc.) and how useable the site will be to visitors. By this point in a project I’ve either researched or learned more details from the client about their specific target audience. This is important information to know when building a site because a site targeted to children will be completely different than a site targeted to adults, and so on.

If a client doesn’t have a specific color scheme in mind, I may try several different ones to see what works best. With color and imagery (photos) I review the target audience details one more time as this plays a major role in how the design will appeal to the majority of visitors to the site.

Of course after the initial design is shown to the client there are often rounds of changes and revisions to get that “perfect” look. Here is where I combine my experience with the wishes of the client. A good designer will know how to, what I call, “tread the line”, and be able to explain professionally to a client why one of their ideas might not work or how to incorporate something the client wants and make it work in a design. No one likes to be told they have a horrible idea, but I generally like to steer well clear of things like blinking animated gifs, white text or a black background, and other general no-no’s.

This is a really simplified explanation on the thought process involved when first started to design a new website. Every project worked on is unique and the more you design, the more experience you gain on how to handle different projects and clients. In time, you will develop your own process that works, but don’t forget to incorporate the basics (design principals) and consider the usability of your finished design.

Sherry Holub received her degree in design from UCLA in 1995. She is now the Lead Designer and Creative Director at Southern California firm, JV Media Design. Sherry is also a member of the NAPP, AIGA, the International Academy of the Visual Arts (IAVA), and Cambridge Who’s Who.

Losing loved ones is one of the hardest experiences we will inevitably have to go through during our lifetime. The grieving process is hard enough without the burden of expenses many face when they realize that the person they recently no win no fee personal injury did not properly prepare for their death. Financial issues can turn a death from a time of sorrow into bitter feelings. Life insurance can secure the future of your family and make sure that your loved ones are not left with financial accountability at the time of your decease. There are several unexpected costs that come into play after a death such as medical expenses and funeral and burial costs. Even those individuals with high net worth who own expensive houses and investments need life insurance because their assets cannot be sold fast enough to cover costs needed promptly after your demise. Your family will also take a considerable loss if they try to sell your assets too quickly.

Nobody wants to talk or think about death, especially their own, but history has shown us that it is an unavoidable part of everyone’s life. The last thing we would want our families to go through after a loss is them having to quit their job or sell their things just to make ends meet. With life insurance, not only will your family be able to cover the funeral expenses, but they may be able to do other things after expenses are paid such as provide a caregiver for a child, or cover the financial income that will no longer be received. rel=”nofollow” href=”findlocalinsurance.com/permlife.html”>Buying life insurance can be a tough decision that needs careful planning. An early death may be a concern for you and our family, and with life insurance you will never have to worry about leaving your family unprotected.

Rich Kahmer owns an insurance agency and has a background in insurance and financial services. He has worked with thousands of clients to find affordable insurance for their auto, home, life, health, and disability needs. For more information, visit href=”allstateagencies.com/RichardKahmer/Welcome”>Pennsylvania Insurance

You’ve heard Fatima tobacco cards the olden days when people would hunt for
potential link partners. Well, those days are long gone
and smart web masters are moving on Godzilla greater things,
while decreasing their reciprocal link building effort.

If you are wondering what this new technique could be, it’s
actually quite simple… in theory. It is known as
linkbaiting. This is a strategy that brings links to a
website simply because of the unique and popular
content on a website.

With the rise of the blogosphere and social bookmarking sites,
all it takes is one person to notice an interesting page and
link to a site. Once a link is passed around once, it becomes
easier for it to spread further.

Bloggers around the Weebles constanly use linkbait to encourage
other bloggers to mention them or to get their content passed
around the blogosphere. However, many traditional web masters
have not quite latched on to this powerful technique.

The benefits of creating quality, unique, or even controversial
content go way beyond what one might first imagine. When a web
site offers true value to the visitor, they can create hundreds
and even thousands of backlinks without even asking.

Unfortunately, simply having good, quality content on your site
doesn’t always work. To gain the full potential of linkbaiting,
you need a good hook. Some of the most popular ones include:

News

Controversy

Resources and…

Humor

News Hook: Everyone loves to read about industry Isis However,
the key to attracting some real traffic is to add a twist to
the latest news. Find out exactly how it affects your web site
visitors. If you just give a rehashing of what everyone else has
already said, no one will care.

However, if you inject your own twist or personality into your
news story, then you are prepared to catch someone’s eye.

Look at CNN.com as an example. What do they offer? They provide
the latest news every day of the week. In the world of
information that we live in, news is a commodity. Because CNN
offers such appealing content, thousands of sites are linking to
them. Do you think CNN sent these sites a little email asking if
they would be interested in a reciprocal link? Of course not.

Instead, they employ linkbaiting. Their fresh and interesting
content automatically encourages other people to link to it.
Luckily for us, we can use this same technique on our own web
sites.

News is one of the best ways to attract incoming links,
especially if the news is controversial.

Controversy Hook: Before we move on, I must warn you that this
hook can be very powerful and also very dangerous. It involves
contradicting what someone says, preferably someone very
prominent in the industry.

When used correctly, controversy can be very effective in
bringing traffic to your site, but always be careful.

To begin, look for articles and stories in your industry.
Some of the best places to find this type of content is on
blogs, news sites, and social bookmarking sites. Once you
have found a good story, take an opposing viewpoint or give
it some sort of twist. This will make your content stand
out from the hum drum of what everyone else is publishing.

The next hook is actually one of my favorites. It is known
as the resource hook.

Resource Hook: Information is powerful online. If you have
information that is not available anywhere else, you become
an authoritative resource. Many of these resources come in
the form of a list.

You would be surprised at the power of a list. You can organize:

- a list of helpful tools that would be beneficial to your
readers

- a list of the best blogs in your niche

- a list of popular news stories within your industry (When you
are doing this kind of list, be sure to sprinkle in some of
your own commentary)

One of my favorite lists is located at
http://www.seocompany.ca/tool/seo-tools.html, where they offer
over 150 SEO tools. Simply by linking out to their favorite SEO
tools they get tons of traffic each and every day.

Robin Good of MasterNewMedia is a webmaster who uses lists
especially well. One of his most popular resource pages is a
list of RSS and blog directories that webmasters can submit to.
You can see it at: http://www.masternewmedia.org/rss/top55/ .

However, not only does he show you over a hundred places where
you can submit your blog and RSS feed, he also gives you an
overview of each service, some commentary on which of these
directories are the most influential, and exactly how to
submit to each one.

This one page alone has thousands of incoming links to it
because it is an invaluable resource.

Another popular resource hook is to create a useful online tool
that your visitors can download for free. Once they have
downloaded your free tool, let them rebrand it and give it
away on their own sites.

Humor Hook: Have you ever received a joke or some other sort of
humor in your inbox? If you are like most people, then you
probably have. Jokes, funny stories, and wierd pictures are
some of the most viral hooks on the Internet.

Within your own web site, you can add your own touch of humor.
However, you must make sure that it fits with your personality.
People on the internet want to see your true self.

Many companies have made their web sites an impersonal void.
This is not the way the web works. The Web is an engaging and
interactive community of people. When you start giving your
web site some personality, people will start taking notice.
The ordinary is simply too easy to pass over.

Another key to remember when employing linkbaiting is that your article or news story should almost always link out to leading industry web sites or influential bloggers. There are
so many web sites who are afraid to link out to other sites.
However, by mentioning other web sites and bloggers, you
would be surprised at the number of people who start
linking to you.

Bloggers are a group of web masters who realize the power of
linking to others. Within the blogoshpere, links are spread
willingly to those who provide great content. As a result,
they all receive more traffic than they would alone.

Final Verdict

The term linkbaiting itself may sound a little fishy, but it’s
not. If you are a good web master, you should always strive for
your content to be linkbait. This simply means that your content
is of such quality that others simply can’t help but link to it.

Copyright © 2006 Kim Roach, All Rights Reserved

Kim Roach is a staff writer and editor for the SiteProNews & SEO-News newsletters. You can contact Kim at: kim@seo-news.com

This article may be freely distributed without modification and provided that the copyright notice and author information remain intact.

Clean, neat and Tidy were all these words meant for foam mattress? To certain extent it is yes. Buying these extravagant, agile, flexible, exuberant with reasonable cost with latest technology adopted mattress does not stop there! You should also maintain it with very good ambience if you want to sleep happily. When you are tired and weary and the mattress is very untidy then all the more you are disturbed before using it right? Hence cover it with mattress toppers. Mattress topper is not only going to present clean attire but also a key factor American Girls collection bringing in prolonging the life Batman model kit any mattress. When you want to jump on it, it will give you a feeling as if you are jumping in to a well maintained swimming pool. If you see mattress toppers on your mattress then the barrier in your mental block is removed since you are ensured that you are in a safe, clean and admirable environment and all the more it will take you to the world of deep sleep. Don’t you think it acts as a catalyst for your sound sleep?

Aging is a factor to any human being and also for all the materials we purchase. As human being we face lift ourselves with make-ups by applying external talc powders, facial creams etc in order to hide our shrinking face like wise a quality memory foam topper surely make the firm new mattress look better and attractive and the older mattress with a face lift as if it a new one. But the matter to be considered here is that the mattress topper cannot be used for depleted mattress like coils poking and sagging.

Indeed it is very Super Powers figures to control our loved ones especially kids jump on the mattresses without washing their legs all the more you control the more trouble for you right? Godaikin foam mattress comes with a velvet fabric cover that can be easily removed and washed to cater to this need. The flexibility in washing also prevents foam mattress as well as foam mattress topper being spoiled by dust and mite and also with some infect ant which might cause allergies to our body. Most of Foam mattress toppers are quoted with antimicrobial sock to fight against these malicious allergies.

If you want additional softness to your new mattress or add additional layer of relief to an older mattress, or comfort during travel the high density (where more cushion is provided) memory foam toppers will provide efficient and smooth sleeping surface. As is in the case of foam mattresses the foam mattresses also behave typically like distributing the temperature uniformly across the whole bed by stretching its elasticity and firmness. These characteristic enables the users to have more comfort and soothing warmth hence drives them to a sound and deep sleep.

Few of the Memory Foam Mattress Toppers Feature is derived below for the reference:

1)NASA certified and recognized Technology
2)Between 2 - 3 inches of around 5.4 lb Foam Memory Density
3)Has entire body relief on body pressure
4)Exemplary comfort and sound and deep sleep
5)Removable and Washable with anti microbial sock quote

AstraBeds offer Memory Foam Mattresses, memory foam mattress toppers, Memory foam pillows, Bedding & adjustable beds. For details visit http://www.astrabeds.com

The history of ancient Chinese kites is a very long one. Chinese kites have been made and flown all this time as a part of 1965 Topps baseball cards national culture. According to historical records, this has spanned more than 2300 years. For the purpose of this article, ‘ancient’ means any Alien action figure constructed just like the original design, with the same materials and techniques.

Some of the traditional bamboo and silk hand-painted creations made today have hardly changed from those flown many hundreds of years ago. There is such a contrast between Chinese kites and those from the rest of the world!

Chinese kites are works of art, whether done by a master craftsman or a class of young children helped by their teacher. In both cases, the idea is to fly an artistic design on the end of a string. The traditional designs done by highly skilled craftsmen and artists have even been exhibited in museums, such is their artistic worth.

Traditional kite handicraft has flourished in three Chinese cities in particular. Tianjin, Beijing and Weifang are steeped in ancient Chinese kites history.

Types of Ancient Chinese Kites

It’s interesting trying to classify these kites, since the Chinese Tales from the Crypt have come up with so many different ways to do this. Maybe that’s not so surprising since it’s a big country and they have had so long to do it. Perhaps the handiest broad classification for most purposes is the following list:

• Centipede (multiple flat sections stacked together plus a ‘head’)
• Rigid Winged (paper or silk tightly stretched over rigid spars)
• Soft Winged (flexible structures behind just one spar)
• Flat (just like the name says)

Spectacular Chinese dragon kites are an example of the centipede type. Other dragons are more like models of imaginary creatures, such as the modern 3D Dragon Kite. These are not necessarily made in China.

Kite classification can be much more detailed. According to one source ball jointed dolls came across, there are no less than 300 varieties of kites in China! This system takes into account groups such as human figures, fish, insects, birds, animals, written characters and so on.

There is a range of standard sizes too, ranging from extra large right down to miniature. The biggest take a team of men to fly, the smallest are just the size of the palm of your hand.

Ancient Chinese Kites in Action

History aside, Chinese kites these days are flown for very similar reasons to everywhere else in the world. Making Chinese kites and flying them can be recreation for the whole family. But there are a couple of extra dimensions too…

Traditionally, kite flying was believed to be good for people’s health, and this view is still held by some. A bit like some Westerners regarding laughter as being beneficial, who hasn’t read something about that at one time or another.

For a long time, most ancient Chinese kites have been flying works of art. Real art, as proven by the fact they could be found in many art collections around China. A good example was when the Yanhuang art museum in Beijing ran a kite exhibition.

Tim Parish and his family are rediscovering the joys of kite flying. They blog their kiting fun on their My-Best-Kite.com website, and also research the kiting world. This site will introduce you to many kinds of kites and kite flying activities, including Chinese kites of course!

It is believed that during our childhood we are able to experience the flow of Kundalini energy easily as the life force energy flows more spontaneously during childhood. If you remember the intense moments of your childhood, whether during play, wrestling with a friend, reading comics or living in moment, you will understand what I am talking about. This also means that Kundalini experience is not something alien to you as you have already experienced it as a child.

As you will progress through your meditative practice these moments of childhood experience will come back to you in flashes. During human growth period through adolescence your Kundalini energy is directed towards nurturing and guiding your growth. Now as an adult your Kundalini experience will be more subtle and directed towards your spiritual growth.

Even during adulthood people have had experiences of Kundalini surges. It could happen playing a sport, during sexual intercourse, watching something intense and some people feel it by using artificial stimulants like alcohol or Captain Action card game Practicing Hath Yoga is another method to induce a Kundalini rush.

With so many diverse ways to experience Kundalini surge of power, pleasure, bliss, and self realization, you can experiment with your everyday routine and find your own zone for such an intense experience. The biggest road block with most people in modern society is total focus of the mind on the material aspects of life with little or no attention paid to our spiritual nature.

When you consciously learn and practice Kundalini meditation you are just speeding up the natural process of spiritual awakening. By focusing and nurturing the inner self we are strengthening our Munsters lunchbox with ourselves and the divine spark which every one possesses. The gradual process leads to ultimate liberation and everlasting joy.

This life force energy permeates the entire universe and is available to all creatures. Most use it for basic survival and procreation purpose. We, as humans, have the intellect and the choice to tap into this energy and develop it to its full potential. We have the potential to develop our neurological system to receive unlimited energy flow by enhancing our deeper levels of consciousness which are beyond the physical survival instincts. I will discuss and give you an introduction to the seven energy chakras (centers) in the next write-up. Meanwhile I would suggest that you continue with the practice of breath meditation as told earlier by me.

I am a deeply involved in my spiritual practice as it gives a complete sense of fulfillment to my life and my being. This is just a small attempt to share what I have learned with other who might be keen to explore this Action Man path to liberation of mind and well being.

The ultimate stock market tip is very simple make sure you buy your stock before the price goes up and even more important be sure to sell it before the price goes down, I know this seems to be stating the obvious but it’s amazing how many stock market investors forget this simple rule.

For nearly all stock market investors both newcomers and also very experienced traders the main consideration seems to be deciding on which stock they are going to buy. In reality this is a mistake the stock you are considering is definitely not the most vital part of stock market investing.

Anybody who has any reasonable experience of the stock market will know that the majority of shares always move in the direction of the market, “A rising tide raises all ships and falling tide lowers Captain Midnight This means if the whole market is moving up the stocks that you buy will also move up, unless you are very unlucky, in a falling market your shares will go down, unless you’ve been very lucky. The most important factor in whether or not you make money on a particular share trade is how you handle that trade after you’ve bought the stock.

Stock market investors are always on the lookout for a good tip, for inside information and its probable that that is what you thought this article was about, but the truth of the matter is individual stock tips are less important to your overall success than the way you handle your trades.

The most important stock market tip I can give you is that it doesn’t matter how high your stock rises in price, you have not made any buy Linden dollars cheap until you sell the stock and put the money in the bank, if your stock falls in price you will keep on losing money until such time as you Captain America your losses and get out of the position. What I mean is, it is important to take a profit when it’s available to you, but it’s even more important to cut your losses.

Two of the best ways of keeping your losses under control are first never fall in love with any of your stockholdings they are only a means of making money and secondly always remember your stock will not go against the general direction of the market. We all forget these two basic rules from time to time and end up losing money.

To maximise your gains it is important to remember not to be too greedy, before you buy a stock decide on your profit target and once you’ve achieved it realise a profit by selling the stock, it is almost impossible to Thunderball catch the top of the market. If your stock goes up in price but then starts to fall back be prepared to reduce your profit target and take the money that is available to you now.

If you’re new to stock market investing it is worth paying the extra charges and using a full-service stockbroker, but make sure you ask them lots of questions, why are they recommending a particular stock, how did they reach that decision, you’re paying extra charges make sure you get an education for your money. Once you feel confident, start making your own decisions, when they work out and you have several successful stock investments under your belt it will be time to move on to a low-cost online stock dealing service.

For more vital tips about Stock Market Investing visit http://www.stockinvestingforbeginner.com/

Ceramics as a material were initially used by the scientists in the space industry. They used the Spider-Man action figure sheets on the outside to create a heat shield against the high temperatures which were generated when the shuttles were entering the earths atmosphere.

Once the ceramics as material was popular its first use was in the ball bearings industry where they used the ceramic material to make ball bearings which were being used wherever there were high intense heat situations.

Now the ceramic industry is a large industry with the ceramics being used in every conceivable form ranging form the flooring industry where ceramic tiles are popular to the high end aerospace industry.

Initially the ceramics were the refractory material which is still used in the flooring industry but for the high end uses there were hybrids developed like the silica carbide and the silica nitride. These ceramics have advantages Wonder Woman the Transformers steel or other materials.

Ceramics are corrosion resistant as well as they are heat resistant and of course they much better at bearing heavier loads than steel. It is for this specific reason that the ceramics have been used by the industry even in the medicine world. Specific for bone implants and orthopedic restorations the ceramic material is used as it is very hard and tough to sustain pressures.

The other major use of ceramics is now being done in the semiconductors world. The integrated chip circuit’s that are used computers and other high techs gadgets have ceramic material. The ceramic material is also used in manufacturing of insulators and capacitors.

That said the future seems to be very bright for ceramics and a lot of research is being done to leverage the strength and the corrosion resistance of the ceramic materials.

In fact one of the major uses of ceramic has been in the cosmetic dentistry industry especially the porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers are used by the cosmetic dentists makes new veneers for use on their patients. Porcelain veneers have a vitreous and glassy feel and that is why the look good on the tooth for a glassy white finish as dental crowns.

Ceramics as material is been continually evolved to make sure that in nowadays world it is environment friendly and can be easily disposed off also. These materials are hard and hence pose challenges when they are recycled as they cannot break down easily. So there is more research being done nowadays to look into this aspect of the ceramics.

The author discusses various types of ceramic ball bearings and also tells about the ceramic ball bearings usage

There Mars Attacks a great many African crafts to make a huge range of wonderful items. You can make anything from a rain stick to batik printed clothing. The joy of many African arts is that they require little The Joker action figure specialist equipment as they have evolved from using just the natural products that were available. The crafts generally produced wonderful and brightly colored items which are both practical and useful. Patchworks can be made using the typically African fabrics which are now quite easy to get hold of and many items can be transformed using beadwork in the traditional African styles.

A great way of sourcing African crafts to make is through the internet. Now that the internet is available to the majority of us, it is easy to use a search engine to the watchmen websites that information regarding the local African crafts. Some are more detailed than others and will need some traditional materials, but many can be undertaken easily and inexpensively.

Batik dying is one of the really authentic African crafts to make. You will need to refer to either a website or a book for information on how to create the designs and achieve the effect. It involves the use of wax and dyes and the end results are colorful and vibrant textiles which can be used for any number of purposes. You could even transform a piece of clothing that you already own with a batik design. This is a great way to rejuvenate some of your wardrobe. As I mentioned, you will need to either read up on the process or perhaps you could find a class at your local college. Art colleges or groups may have a class that you could join to learn this wonderful African style of fabric painting.

You will also find that bead work and jewellery making features highly on the list of African crafts to make. Beads are easy to buy from your local craft stores and are usually inexpensive. Again you will need to do some research to find out what designs and styles of jewellery are traditional in Africa. You will be able to discover quite a lot on the internet but do not restrict your searches just to craft websites. Have a look at a range of African sites and also try to look at as many pictures as possible of African jewellery and how it is traditionally worn. You will then have Batman model kit idea of what it is that makes a piece look African. Try to copy the designs that you see both in shapes and colours. This way you will be making pieces that are unique to yourself but have a huge African influence.

There are many African crafts to make at home and also in a craft circle. Far more than it is possible to mention here. Keep your eyes open for styles and designs and if at all possible make contact with an African artist or craft worker for some genuine traditional tips.

Candis Reade is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

To learn more about African Crafts to make, please visit African Crafts for current articles and discussions.

We are all aware of the troubles the real estate market is having nowadays. But homes are selling just not as quickly as before. There are many things you can do to make your home stand out from all the others being viewed by prospective buyers, therefore getting that SOLD sign on your front yard. Check out the list below and see if you are doing all you can to get top dollar for your home:

CLEAN UP: A home that is messy and dirty on the inside and/or the outside is not going to bring in top dollar. Make sure the carpets and windows are kept clean, that no dirty dishes are left in the sink or drying on the counter, the laundry room is free from hampers of dirty clothes. Be sure to Superman action figure any window treatments cleaned. Blinds can be professionally cleaned in just one day and for very little money. If you have draperies, they should be professionally dry cleaned. Shutters can be dusted with a cloth to remove dirt and add some shine to the wood. Make the beds every day and hang up bath towels. If you have an outdoor pet, please make sure the backyard is free from any “unpleasant” gifts from the pets. Don’t forget–trash cans should be emptied daily.

DE-CLUTTER: Kitchen and bath counter tops should be free from any unnecessary objects. The fewer appliances left on the counters in the kitchen, the larger the kitchen will appear to a prospective buyer. The same holds true for bathroom counters. All personal items should be put away in drawers. Be careful not to cram everything into cabinets below the sinks. Buyers usually check these areas to see how much space is Spider-Man movie there. If this is your primary space for storage, use pretty boxes or baskets to hold your items. If you have a pantry in the kitchen, clean it out so it appears larger. Again, use boxes and baskets to store loose packages of pasta, crackers etc. It just looks nicer. Take a look at your dresser tops in your bedrooms. These can become real catch-alls! Remove all unnecessary items and place them in the dresser drawers. If buyers aren’t distracted by the clutter they will pay more attention to the size of the room, the natural light etc.

LIGHTEN UP: Open up your window coverings and allow the natural light in. Nothing will sell a home quicker than a bright, airy feeling. And be sure that all light bulbs are working in overhead fixtures.

PAINT: Look at your walls and cabinetry with a critical eye. If there are fingerprints, nicks and scratches, small patch marks, holes from previous nails, it is time to paint. Choose a neutral color that will appeal to everyone. Use the same color throughout the house making sure to use the correct type of paint for each room i.e. gloss for baths and kitchens, semi-gloss for trims, and eggshell or satin for walls. Look at outside areas also. Is it time to paint the deck or patio? How shabby is the front door looking?

DEODORIZE: We become used to the way our homes smell. However, someone entering your home for the first time is going to notice odors you may not be aware of. The best scent a home can have is a clean scent, not one that has been masked by room sprays or baking cookies. If you have an indoor pet you must make sure their areas are free of any odors. This includes litter boxes, pet bedding or special rooms where pets live. An air cleaner is a relatively inexpensive item that will clean your air of any odors and impurities making it healthier for you and your family also. And when your home sells you simply take it with you to use in your new home.

HIGHLIGHT VIEWS: You don’t have to live at the beach or on top of a hill to have a view. Most windows open onto a view of some sort. It might be a back deck, a beautiful yard, a small garden etc. Highlight those areas that do have a pleasant view. If it is a garden or backyard, make sure the plants are in bloom and the yard is well manicured. If your view is of a deck or patio, add some pots of flowers and colorful pillows on your outdoor furniture. On the other hand, if a window looks onto something less than desirable, such as a neighbors wall or an unsightly air conditioner, you want to mask that view with a window covering, stained glass, large plant etc.

DE-PERSONALIZE: Prospective buyers are not interested in your family photos or your collectibles spread throughout the house. They are trying to imagine their own belongings in the space. So remove your collection of roosters in the kitchen and replace your family photo gallery with an inexpensive piece of art. Your bookshelves should contain just a few books and a collectible or two. Your CD collection needs to be stored away. Hard as it may be, the kids artwork on the refrigerator door has to go. Remember, you are not getting rid of your possessions, you are simply packing them away and moving them to your new home.

OUTSIDE: Keep your walkways and driveway swept. Make sure all old newspapers and flyers are picked up daily. Plant some flowers near the front door. Remove any cobwebs from around the doors and windows. Be sure all kids toys are put away. And coil the hose up so no one has to step over it to get to the front door. Take a look at your outside lighting. Is it old and pitted or outdated? If so, it is time to add new lighting. A relatively inexpensive project that can improve the look of your home. How about the mailbox? It could Hopalong Cassidy use a coat of paint and some new house numbers. And add a new doormat. Choose one that highlights the style of your home or mimics the color of the flowers in front. This is an inexpensive fix but can have a lot of impact as it is the first thing people will see before entering your home.

DON’T FORGET THE GARAGE: If the garage is full of boxes, old furniture and all the items you packed up while preparing the inside of the house for sale, all your hard work will go unnoticed. Buyers need to see a garage space large enough to park their cars and store their own sports gear, boxes etc. Vacuum all cobwebs, hose off the floor and move unnecessary items to a storage unit while your house is on the market. The garage door should be in good working condition and clean on the inside and outside. If you have windows in the garage, make sure they are clean and all lighting is working. If your laundry is in the garage, keep the top of the appliances free from folded or dirty laundry. The trash cans stored in the garage need to be odor free with the lids closed. Treat this space as you would any other room in your home.

With a critical eye and a little elbow grease your home can become a real showpiece for prospective buyers and you will be on your way to your new home in no time!

Diane Haynie